Wider access sought for dangerous chemical data

Updated 12:18 am, Tuesday, June 18, 2013

In response to the West Fertilizer Co. explosion, Texas officials Monday suggested creating a public database of dangerous chemical locations to help residents assess risk.

A stockpile of ammonium nitrate exploded April 17 in West, killing 15 and damaging dozens of homes. The explosion, still under investigation, led to criticism regarding what the public and emergency responders know about dangerous chemicals.

One way to boost awareness is to create an online database that's open to everyone, state lawmakers and emergency management officials said. During a meeting of the Texas House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety, officials said they had not determined what levels of 400 potentially dangerous chemicals would trigger inclusion in the database.

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“As complex as it sounds, it is not very complex,” said Steve McCraw, director of the Department of Public Safety. “In fact, it is web-enabled and it doesn't have the issues of the sex offender registry, and we're doing that now.”

McCraw said grant funds could likely pay for the database since its creation would involve taking information already provided by state health department officials and placing it on a public site, such as those of the DPS or the state fire marshal's office.

The information would not include sensitive information, such as specifics that might make a site susceptible to attack, public safety officials said.

The West plant previously notified officials it had up to 250 tons of ammonium nitrate on site, but it is unclear who knew that level of fertilizer-making material was regularly on-site. Between 24 tons and 38 tons of ammonium nitrate were involved in the explosion, State Fire Marshal Chris Connealy said.

The only disclosure of the ammonium nitrate's presence comes from a form sent to the state's Department of Health Services. That form is then included in the region's emergency preparedness plan, and is publicly available, but in Texas the information is not gathered in a comprehensive, easy-to-use way.

The public database is one of a handful of changes considered by the legislative committee. The chairman, Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, said officials might consider additional disclosures and inspections at major chemical handlers.

“What I would like to do is go beyond what the feds have in place,” Pickett said, adding that more discussions are planned regarding the lessons the West disaster can provide.